Client Perspectives: Meaning-Making in the Counseling Process

In the last century, it can be said that there has been an increase in studies focusing on how professional services, such as the counseling process, are perceived by the individuals receiving the service. This study aims to explore and understand the counseling process from the perspective of the clients through the analysis of the daily records kept by the clients after the counseling sessions and the process evaluation forms filled out at the end of the whole process. In this sense, it is aimed to understand how the services provided by counselors who have undergone supervised training are perceived by their clients. The thematic analysis method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used to examine the data obtained from the clients' diary records regarding their experiences in the counseling process and the evaluation forms after the counseling process. In this sense, a total of six clients and 42 diary and 6 process evaluation forms filled out by these clients at the end of each session were included in the study. Demographic Information Form, Daily Record Form and Post-Counseling Process Evaluation Form were prepared to collect data. The results of the study revealed that the participants' experiences of the counseling process were shaped by four main themes: emotional experiences, problems and perspectives, perceptions of therapeutic skills and techniques, and acquired skills and characteristics. The findings are discussed in the light of the relevant literature, and recommendations are presented to relevant stakeholders.